Chennai
427 km²
Philadelphia
370 km²
City Map Compare/Chennai vs Philadelphiavs
vs
5 km
India
United States
Area Comparison
Chennai is 1.2x larger than Philadelphia
Population Comparison
Chennai has 4.1x more people than Philadelphia
Yes — Chennai is 1.2x larger than Philadelphia by area. Chennai spans 427 km² (165 mi²) while Philadelphia covers 370 km² (143 mi²) — a difference of 57 km².
To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Philadelphia at 370 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul.
Chennai's footprint is roughly about 60,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Philadelphia, by comparison, equals about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park.
Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. As per the 2011 Indian census, Chennai is the sixth-most-populous city in India and forms the fourth-most-populous urban agglomeration. The city is coterminous with Chennai district, which together with the adjoining suburbs constitutes the Chennai Metropolitan Area, one of the largest metropolitan areas of India.
Known as "Madras", Chennai covers 427 km² with a population of 6.6 million. The city was established in 1639. Chennai is known for Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, among other attractions.
Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth-most-populous city in India.
Philadelphia, colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most populous city in the United States, with a Census-estimated population of 1,574,281 in July 2025. The Philadelphia metropolitan area has 6.33 million residents and is the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan area. Philadelphia is known for its culture, cuisine, and history, maintaining contemporary influence in business and technology, sports, and music.
Nicknamed "Philly", Philadelphia has an area of 370 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. The city dates back to 1682. Visitors come for Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Philly Cheesesteak, and much more.
Philadelphia is the sixth-most populous US city, with an estimated 1,574,281 residents as of July 2025.
Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Philadelphia, with 4,324 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chennai is dramatically more crowded, with 3.6x the population density.
Density Gap
Chennai is 3.6x more densely populated
Chennai covers 427 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Oslo (454 km²), Denver (401 km²), Portland (376 km²), or Philadelphia (370 km²).
Philadelphia covers 370 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seattle (369 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chennai to Philadelphia is 13,595 km (8,447 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 30m.
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